Drainage programme for Campbellville to be rolled out soon
President Ali engaging residents of Seaforth Street and Campbell Avenue in Campbellville on Thursday. The residents used the opportunity to raise concerns with President Ali, who, in his usual hands-on approach, promised swift action which will provide some relief. He was accompanied by several members of his Cabinet (DPI photos)
Public servants who exploit systems to be held accountable - President Ali says
PRESIDENT Dr. Irfaan Ali has announced that the government will take a closer look at the abuse of sick leave and absenteeism in the public service, addressing it as a critical issue impacting the efficiency of government service delivery at the community level.
In a meeting with regional executive officers, regional health officers, and regional education officers from across the country, Dr. Ali on Tuesday emphasised that addressing these challenges is key to improving productivity in the public sector.
“We have been able to look at the structural issues, the human resource challenges,” Dr. Ali stated adding,
“They themselves also spoke about indiscipline within the system, absenteeism from work.”
The President noted that absenteeism, particularly among key and critical staff, has been exacerbated by the misuse of sick leave provisions. He pointed out that some employees have been exploiting the system.
“The abuse of sick leave and private doctors being used in the process of aiding this abuse of sick leave, especially for key and critical staff…and they’ve asked that strong measures be recommended because this affects productivity and efficiency in the delivery of service,” he said.
Already, he noted the government has a clear strategy outlined and persons will be held accountable for how service is delivered to the populace.
The strategy includes ensuring every member of the population has access to world-class education and health services.
“We want to reduce the costs of people receiving government business, reduce the time it takes them to receive government service, and improve the quality and delivery of that service. And that is being more direct, being more approachable, creating a more customer-oriented environment, and ensuring that all the investments that
we are making deliver at the optimum level,” Dr. Ali said.
The Head of State added:
“We have been making tremendous investments to improve the lives of our people, and its key and it is key that bureaucracy or people does
not form an impediment in service delivery.”
He also acknowledged the challenges in regard to efficient infrastructure, training, and supply management.
Dr. Ali said: “What we really sought to achieve today
was finding the formula that would fix existing issues, the inefficiencies in the system, whether it’s the small issues like washroom sanitation issues within health centres, health outposts, schools, or whether there were structural issues of changing the system to make it more people centre and people oriented.”
He added: “We [are] focused on fixing what needs to be fixed. We had a full discourse on all the gap that exists.”
Solutions proposed include decentralising medical supply management, implementing a quality assurance body, and ensuring continuous support through health centres.
AFC in desperate attempt to ‘cling’ to PNC/R for support - Jagdeo highlights
THE Alliance For Change (AFC), in a desperate attempt to retain relevance and favour among Guyanese, is looking to cling to its former coalition partner, the People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R)/A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).
This was according to General Secretary of the People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, during his weekly press conference, on Thursday.
The recent clash over leadership, and glaring distrust within the opposition camp made it easy to conclude that both of the parties are on life support.
The APNU+AFC, this week, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the recreation of a coalition, but the talks have seemingly already turned sour, and even AFC Leader, Nigel Hughes has said it is on “life support.”
“The fact of the matter is that these two parties are on life support themselves, especially the AFC and I think this is an attempt to cling on to the PNC to ensure that they maintain some modicum of credibility at the next polls,” Jagdeo said.
This internal conflict playing out in the public do-
General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo
main, is nothing new for both the APNU and AFC, the General Secretary pointed out. Irregardless, of who their presidential candidate is, based on its track record, the General Secretary said the Opposition will lose this year’s election. “We don’t care too much who their presidential candidate is because they’re going to lose the elections in any case,” he firmly said.
APNU Chairman and People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R) Leader, Aubrey Norton has consistently
maintained that should he not be presidential candidate the alternative person must be approved by him.
He had even emphasised that the PNC/R, as the largest party in the coalition, is entitled to the presidential candidacy and would not relinquish this role to a smaller party, and to put it frank, not to “anybody who just fly off of a treetop.”
However, based on this week’s events, Jagdeo said the AFC is attempting to “strong arm” its way and put pressure on Norton to back
down from his position.
Adding to this, he highlighted that their MoU mirrors that of the 2015 Cummingsburg Accord, which just like the new agreement, had outlined the terms and framework of their partnership.
However, as widely reported, the APNU+AFC had a bitter fallout owing to the power imbalance and breaches to the Accord.
Commenting on the accord, Jagdeo said: “They never kept any of the provisions of the accord. They
spoke about helping people and all sorts of things. They betrayed what they signed so they didn’t want this document to come into the public domain again.”
Despite the AFC’s attempts to rebrand, Jagdeo said Guyanese realise that it is utilising the same old playbook.
Further, responding to Hughes saying that there is new leadership, Jagdeo debunked this and pointed out that the same faces present today were involved in formulation of the previous accord.
He said: “It’s the same old cabal doing the same old thing and hoping they can pull wool over the eyes of the people of this country.”
The possibility of another coalition between the ‘divorced’ APNU and the AFC hangs in the balance, as talks were put on “life support” because of what appears to be a power struggle and distrust among stakeholders.
Reeling from a history of widely reported internal conflicts, the parties which officially parted ways in 2022 after being voted out of office in 2020, recently convened talks with the hope of forming a new partnership ahead of the 2025 elections.
This, however, has al -
ready gotten off to a rocky start.
Earlier in the day on Tuesday, a news report was published, stating that a senior PNC/R official said that their party leader Norton would be the APNU+AFC presidential candidate, as discussions got underway to form a new partnership.
Just a few hours later, Hughes said: “The AFC’s position tonight is that there have been developments which have caused us to pause,” indicating a high level of uncertainty over whether the APNU+AFC will be retying the knot and the trust deficit will be filled.
However, this did not sit well with Norton as he was quoted in the Stabroek News as saying: “I will be the presidential candidate as determined by the PNC, as the largest political party in the coalition. I find Mr. Hughes’ comments on the presidential candidate unnecessary at this stage… we will continue to engage whoever is engaging with us.”
While there is an attempt by the opposition camp to boost electoral appeal, the public has continued to echo its concerns over whether the uneasy partnership can hold amid unresolved differences.
Drainage programme for Campbellville to be rolled out soon
- President Ali tells
residents,
addresses several community concerns
ADDRESSING the concerns of several Campbellville residents, President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Thursday announced that works will commence within a week’s time to enhance the local drainage system.
At a community engagement at Seaforth Street, one resident noted that the community has seen ‘excellent’ transformation, but drainage woes continue to plague the community due to the lack of maintenance.
what can be done,” he told residents of Seaforth Street and Campbell Avenue.
In regard to drainage, he noted that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will work closely with residents, crafting a programme that will also employ local labour.
“Every single day in the life of this government for the last fourplus years, I can guarantee you, without the shadow of a doubt, that either the President, the Prime Minister, the Vice-President or one member of Cabinet was in some community engaging people at the community level.
“That was a major emphasis in 2020; to build a government that is a listening government that acts on behalf of the people,” Dr. Ali had said.
She noted that of recent, “The water never goes down, it’s always at this level and it rises up.”
Meanwhile, another resident pointed out that there has been a delay in garbage collection in the community.
“I have seen lately the garbage collection is taking longer, so the garbage accumulates.”
In response to these concerns, President Ali noted that the government will engage the city council to address
“We would like to speak about our drainage, I know that you have been doing the drainage cleaning, which is excellent sir, but for a while our drain has not been cleaned,” the woman said.
the timely and proper disposal of garbage in the area.
Further, the government will erect streetlights, addressing a direct concern of safety for some residents.
“The issues that I am hearing here is the drainage, the streetlights, the koker, the garbage collection, we have to work with the city council and see
“What we will do within the next week, we will put together a full drainage programme for the area, where we can use the local labour, but NDIA will bring in their equipment and we will fix the drainage.”
In recent weeks, President Ali has visited several communities across the country, engaging residents.
At a previous engagement, the president noted that the government is not just only making commitments but delivering on them.
At Thursday’s community engagement, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson and Minister within the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Anand Persaud were also present.
President Dr. Irfaan Ali visited Campbellville on Thursday where he listened to the concerns of persons living in Seaforth Street and along Campbell Avenue
Opposition’s ‘unconstitutional’ biometrics proposal a ruse to disenfranchise voters
- distract from sordid history of elections rigging, Jagdeo says
WHILE grilling the Opposition for its unconstitutional proposals, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo supported Chairperson of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), Justice (Ret’d) Claudette Singh’s ruling against the introduction of biometric fingerprint identification in the upcoming elections.
During a press conference at Freedom House on Thursday, he highlighted the irony of the People’s National Congress/ Reform (PNC/R)-led A Partnership for National Unity
(APNU)’s campaign for biometrics given the party's history of elections rigging or attempts to subvert the will of the voters.
“I think it’s a clever attempt to get away from their past and the recent past I’m speaking of, where they sought to rig the elections,” the General Secretary said. Jagdeo pointed out that the topic of biometrics is nothing new as it was collected in the past.
Delving into the sole reason why the opposition is pushing for biometrics, he stated that they want to prevent people from voting, an act which is unconstitutional.
He explained: “And it’s not about biometrics or no biometrics, it is what they want to use it for and that is what they spoke of… They want to use it for an unconstitutional purpose which is to prevent people from voting, for example if you show up at the polling station and there is some glitch in the system then you lose your right to vote."
“You cannot lose your right to vote. That has been decided on, sometime before,” he firmly stated.
Jagdeo said the Opposition knows they are going to lose the elections, hence their constant tactics.
“The plot is clear… Even from Opposition, their mind is crooked around stealing elections,” he said.
The General Secretary also said that
GECOM’s Chairperson has been consistent in her rulings.
PPP/C-nominated GECOM Commissioner and former Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee, had described the ruling as “justiciable, practical, and realistic.”
The debate over in -
corporating biometric technology into the electoral process has been one of the most contentious issues in recent months.
In a recent opinion piece, Rohee said that discussions on the topic began after GECOM’s Chief Election Officer (CEO), Vishnu Persaud presented a feasibility study in May, 2024, titled ‘Feasibility Study for Introducing Digital Fingerprint Capture during Registration and Biometric Fingerprint Identification for Voting in Guyana.’
According to him, the study outlined potential advantages, challenges, and legal implications of adopting such a system.
From the outset of discussions in October, 2024, Commissioner Rohee said he expressed firm opposition to the proposal.
Speaking at a commission meeting, Rohee recalled arguing that the divide within GECOM over biometrics mirrored a broader societal split, with opposing political parties taking entrenched
positions on the issue.
He said that GECOM, as a neutral body, must ensure any decisions on electoral reforms are based on thorough analysis and not partisan pressures.
Rohee highlighted:
‘The challenges of using biometric fingerprint identification for voter identification and privacy concerns; the political considerations; the disadvantages of fingerprint recognition and predictable difficulties; the trust and confidence factors for GECOM and the experiences of several countries who rejected the use of biometric fingerprint identification for voting at national election.”
He noted that he also pointed out that introducing biometrics would require constitutional amendments, a lengthy and complex process.
After months of deliberations, Rohee stated that Justice Singh delivered a comprehensive ruling on the matter, citing logistical and temporal challenges.
Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo
Support for Haiti needed now ‘more than ever’
HAITI is showing signs of progress on the political front despite serious setbacks in terms of security, the Special Representative and Head of the UN office in the country, BINUH, told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Maria Isabel Salvador updated ambassadors on the situation in the Caribbean country, where a political transition process to restore democratic institutions continues against a backdrop of ongoing gang violence, mainly in the capital, Portau-Prince.
“At this crucial time, Haiti needs your continued support more than ever,” she said, speaking from the city.
“In order to organise a constitutional revision process and credible, participative and inclusive elections in this crisis context, Haitian actors must overcome their differences and work together,” she added.
TRANSITION
FRAMEWRK
‘FRAGILE’
Ms. Salvador reported on recent developments, including the appointment of a new Prime Minister in November which has led to improved collaboration between the Transitional Presidential Council and the current Government.
The final two members of the Provisional Electoral Council have been appointed, which she welcomed, noting that “four of the nine members are now women, which is an important step towards greater gender inclusion in the electoral process.”
The National Conference on constitutional reform also continues its work, and the constitutional referendum and general elections remain targeted for this year.
However, she said, “the transition framework remains fragile”, characterised by increasing fragmentation within the Transitional Pres-
idential Council, combined with persistent external criticism of the body.
Furthermore, three Council members face serious corruption allegations which has heightened tensions.
Some political actors have written to regional bloc CARICOM to facilitate a national dialogue.
DEADLY GANG ATTACKS
Meanwhile, armed gangs continue terrorising the Haitian population and the insecurity has impacted humanitarian operations.
On 11 November, gangs attacked commercial aircraft near the Port-au-Prince airport, forcing its closure and the suspension of all flights. They have also carried out attacks across the capital, including the killing last month of 207 people in Wharf Jérémie, located in the Cité Soleil neighbourhood.
Ms. Salvador said the Haitian National Police (HNP), supported by the Security Council-backed Multinational Security Support mission (MSS) and, in some cases, the Armed Forces of Haiti, has made efforts to respond to the surge in violence.
The MSS is led by Kenya, and she welcomed the deployment of an additional 217 police officers from the country on 18 January.
Furthermore, 150 Guatemalans and an advance team of eight Salvadorean troops have also arrived in Haiti.
UN OPERATION AFFECTED
“The worsening security crisis has significantly impacted United Nations operations,” she said.
“In response to the suspension of flights to Portau-Prince and widespread violence, the UN decided to temporarily reduce its footprint in the capital, while continuing to provide lifesaving assistance.”
She stressed that the UN remains committed to scaling up its presence as soon as security conditions allow.
She said the humanitarian crisis in Haiti has reached alarming levels.
Over six million people, nearly half the population, require assistance, with nearly four million targeted for aid.
The number of internally displaced persons has tripled to over one million, and more than half are children. Some 48 per cent of people are facing food insecurity, with nearly two million in emergency conditions and 6,000 in catastrophic conditions.
She urged donors to support the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan for Haiti, which calls for $908 million to address the suffering and support recovery.
WEAPONS INFLUX CONTINUES
Ghada Waly, head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), also briefed the Council.
She told ambassadors that the ongoing violence and instability in Haiti is compounded by illicit arms flows, drug trafficking and other illicit markets, and underpinned by corruption and money laundering.
“Despite the reinforcement of the arms embargo,
–– UN Security Council hears
weapons and ammunition trafficking continue to flow into Haiti and into the hands of gangs,” she said.
While the drug trade is key among illicit markets, others are also “booming”, such as wildlife crime.
She said there is growing evidence that several Haitian nationals are part of a wider criminal network connected to lucrative eel trafficking, operating in the country and beyond.
“Some reports indicate that powerful political and economic figures in Haiti use the eel industry to launder
drug profits,” she added.
Ms. Waly underscored the importance of enhancing Haiti’s capacities against trafficking, improving regional co-operation and information sharing, and strengthening the country’s institutions.
She also reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to work with the Haitian authorities and partners to tackle the underlying structures of organised crime and corruption. (UN)
Maria Isabel Salvador (on screen), Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, briefs the Security Council (UN Photo/ Manuel Elías)
‘Life Support’
THE possibility of a reunified alliance between A Partnership for National Unity, APNU, and the Alliance For Change, AFC, appears to hang in the balance as new developments have unraveled even more deep-seated issues of trust and power dynamics within the opposition camp.
Although defeated in the 2020 election, the two parties officially broke up in 2022 and have since been attempting to revive their association ahead of the 2025 elections. That appears to have reached a serious bump.
But beneath it all, an ongoing tussle for power has become clearer with each passing day. Leader of the PNC/R
Aubrey Norton insists that he or one of his candidates must stand as presidential candidate in any new coalition that emerges.
But that places him on a collision course with AFC leader Nigel Hughes, who, despite being in a party that doesn’t command much support, has been emphatic in his declaration that he and his party stand ready to face these elections alone if so needed.
The situation came to a head on Tuesday when Hughes was compelled to host an unplanned press conference to quell speculation surrounding the coalition talks.
He said the MoU between APNU
and AFC is now on “life support,” a thinly veiled reference to the growing discord between the parties.
Hughes’s emphatic denial of Norton being identified as the presidential candidate further underscores the rift between the two factions.
What is currently taking place is not dissimilar from the inner wranglings that tormented the APNU+AFC coalition when they were in office from 2015 to 2020.
The complaint by the AFC of being sidelined by its larger faction in APNU would suggest old wounds have not healed.
The history of their discord is now
a long shadow cast over any negotiations of a partnership that might happen now. Both parties, ahead of a March 31 deadline to decide on whether or not to collaborate, are now literally and figuratively at a crossroads.
The insistence of the AFC on a “mechanism” and “process” for identifying leadership, coupled with the hardline stance of the PNC/R to retain the presidential candidacy, may present a major stumbling block to any deal.
The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether this political marriage can be salvaged or if Guyana’s opposition will face the electorate as separate entities in 2025.
Hughes must justify Dutch Disease claims
Dear Editor,
NIGEL Hughes’ recent claims that Guyana is at risk of falling victim to Dutch Disease raise important questions about his understanding of the term and the reality of Guyana’s economy.
Dutch Disease, at its core, describes a situation where the rapid growth of a resource-based sector, such as oil, leads to the stagnation of other areas of the economy—particularly manufacturing and agriculture—resulting in over-reliance on resource revenues. This economic phenomenon often manifests through an appreciating currency that hampers export competitiveness. However, the evidence clearly shows that Guyana is avoiding this economic trap.
Analysis of the 2024 Mid-Year Report and the 2025 Budget Speech reveals that Guyana’s non-oil economy grew healthily. Appendix A1 in the 2024 Mid-Year Report pegs 2023 growth for the agriculture, fishing and forestry sectors as expanding by 6.9 per cent. Likewise, the manufacturing sector
expanded by 29.3 per cent, while the services sector grew by 10.9 per cent. Overall, the non-oil GDP growth rate for 2023 was 12.3 per cent.
The 2025 Budget Speech provides further evidence of the economy’s diversification. The agriculture, fishing, and forestry sector grew by 11 per cent, with rice production increasing by 9.3 per cent to 725,282 metric tonnes. Corn and soya production surged by 154.8 per cent and 129.2 per cent respectively, while livestock production rose by 24.6 per cent. Additionally, the bauxite industry rebounded with a 48.4 per cent increase to 1.7 million metric tonnes, reversing years of decline under the PNCR/AFC administration. The manufacturing sector is estimated to have expanded by 13.5 per cent. Overall, the non-oil GDP growth rate for 2024 was 13.1 per cent.
Mr Hughes’ claims of Dutch Disease demand evidence. The data shows an economy experiencing broad-based growth, with agriculture, manufacturing, services, and even bauxite mining thriving alongside the oil industry. If Mr
Hughes believes otherwise, where is his evidence? What specific data or trends suggest that Guyana’s economy is stagnating or over-reliant on oil?
Further, Mr. Hughes would do well to explain how consultation with the Opposition—whose track record on economic management is far from stellar—would improve these outcomes. Would the AFC recommend cutting investments in agriculture that are revitalising rural livelihoods? Or would they reduce allocations for private sector-led construction and services that are connecting communities and driving economic activity?
Moreover, Mr. Hughes should clarify what his solution to Dutch Disease entails. Does he suggest halting oil production and forfeiting the revenues that are funding this transformative growth? Does he propose abandoning the gas-to-energy project that will slash electricity costs for households and businesses?
These are not rhetorical questions but genuine ones that require answers. If Mr. Hughes believes his critique is valid, he
must engage with the data and provide evidence for his claims. Otherwise, his warnings about Dutch Disease amount to little more than political posturing. The truth is Guyana is navigating its resource boom with vision and strategy, ensuring that all sectors of the economy benefit and that no one is left behind. The thriving non-oil economy, as evidenced in the 2024 Mid-Year Report and the 2025 Budget Speech, reflects sound policies and a forward-looking approach to development.
Mr. Hughes’ remarks, unfortunately, fail to engage with the reality of the situation. The data is unequivocal: Guyana is thriving because of balanced growth, prudent economic management, and transformative investments in areas like housing, which are creating wealth and improving lives.
If Mr. Hughes believes otherwise, let him provide the evidence and explain which data points to Dutch Disease and why.
Sincerely, Alfonso De Armas
Op-Ed
By Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
FINANCE ministers in Guyana and in many countries around the world usually boast about their “biggest budget ever.”
Every finance minister has done so since independence. And in every parliamentary budget debate, the opposition would counter that “biggest budget ever” means nothing unless it delivers for people. It, therefore, is not shocking that the major criticism the immediate former minister of finance could come up with is that Ashni Singh’s “biggest budget ever” is much ado about nothing and a “disaster.”
The truth is that Minister Singh and the PPP MPs in the coming debate will find it easy to defend Budget 2025 as the “biggest budget ever” because Budget 2025 is transformative, empowering people, families, businesses, building the infrastructure, transforming horizons, creating jobs, providing safety nets for the vulnerable, building the social sector, such as health, education, housing, water and sports, etc.
The “biggest budget ever” supports the most ambitious strategy for development and GDP diversification ever. The PPP MPs would have a field day in slamming the same claims Winston Jordon made as Finance Minister because Jordon’s claim of the “biggest budget ever” then were truly meaningless.
There are many reasons the PNC-led APNU+AFC Government lost the 2020 elections. None of those reasons stand out as clearly as their clueless Minister of Finance. One would have thought that it is in his interest not to remind people of why he stands out as Guyana’s and CARICOM’s worst ever finance minister.
Jordon presented five national budgets. Each time he made the “biggest budget ever” claim. I believe that Ashni Singh has presented 13 budgets and each time he made that claim. But there are stark differences between the boast of “biggest-ever” budgets made by Ashni Singh and Jordon.
In the five budgets that Jordon presented, one could easily argue that “biggest” did not mean better because each of those budgets placed more burden on Guyanese through increased taxation, each took away benefits or caused loss of jobs and none included a transformative agenda, either in infrastructure or the social development needs of our people. All of the budgets Jordon presented were” tax and spend” budgets and all were utter disavowal of promises his government made to people.
Minister Ashni Singh’s “biggest budget ever” in 2025, as before, was not merely a routine boast.
First, Ashni Singh’s “biggest budget ever” is a budget in which the government is able to allocate more money for development, without any new taxes, and with a reduction of taxes – the threshold was increased by more than 30 per cent between Budgets 2024 and 2025 and by
The stark contrast between Ashni Singh’s and Jordon’s claims of ‘biggest budget ever’
100 per cent between Budgets 2020 and 2025. The tax rate was reduced from 28 per cent to 25 per cent for salaries up to $260,000 above the threshold and from 40 per cent to 35 per cent for income above threshold +$260,000. In addition, VAT on certain items, such as agriculture machinery and for generators, have been waived. In contrast, Jordon’s budgets were filled with more than 200 new taxes or increased taxes, such as VAT on education, water, electricity, health products, food, drainage and irrigation fees, agriculture land lease rates, mining, and agriculture machinery, etc.
While the PPP budgets since 2020 have averaged a more than 20 per cent annual increase in the threshold, Jordon’s budget managed a moribund six per cent annual increase. In short, PPP/s budgets provided tax relief for people and businesses; Jordon’s PNC-led APNU+AFC budgets imposed severe tax burdens on people.
Second, Ashni Singh’s “biggest budget ever” significantly increases safety nets such as the Because We Care school grant, one-off cash grants for all adults, introduction of a cash grant for newborn babies and a national health voucher for all citizens, increases in old-age pension and public assistance. Budget 2025 caters for cost-ofliving interventions like removal of bridge tolls, transforming UG to free education, increase in the number of persons on parttime employment, allocation to ensure electricity cost will be reduced by 50 per cent etc. Jordon’s “biggest budget ever” took away safety nets from people. They abolished the Because We Care grants, the water and electricity subsidies, support for farmers, businesses and households during climate change and other kinds of disasters. They increased UG fees.
Third, Ashni Singh’s “biggest budget
ever” results from investments in transformative infrastructure, such as highways and bridges, gas-to-energy project, schools and hospitals, sports facilities, etc. Jordon made the boast of “biggest budget ever” five times, but for all five of those budgets there was no allocation for new transformative projects.
All the big transformative projects were those that were in progress from 2014, such as the modernisation and expansion of the CJIA, the East Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara, West Demerara Highways. No new school or hospital or genuine housing scheme was completed during this time. Their most noteworthy project was Durban Park which stands out today in the physical landscape as a national eye-sore and disgrace and as one of the biggest scam and corruption ever.
The most important distinguishing feature between Ashni Singh’s and Jordon “biggest ever budget” boasts relates to how these budgets treat manifesto and campaign promises. Ashni Singh and the PPP MPs will justifiably regale the nation and the world that their “biggest budget ever” supports implementation of promises made in their manifesto and on the campaign. They promised to reinstitute the Because We Care grant for school children and make it bigger and better, culminating with the grant being $50,000 per child by 2025, double the old-age pension from $20,500 (2020) to $41,000 by 2025, reinstitute the water and electricity subsidies for pensioners, increase public assistance, reintroduce the CDO programme for Amerindians, introduce an aggressive and progressive cash grant relief programme.
The PPP promised to reverse all the new taxes introduced by Jordon and the PNC-led APNU+AFC. These and other safety net programmes to help Guyanese families have been implemented through Budgets 2020 to 2025.
The PPP promised that they will remove fees from the University of Guyana. Budget 2025 accomplished this. The PPP promised that sugar estates that were closed would, where possible, be restarted and sugar workers who had lost jobs would be reemployed. Rose Hall estate was restarted in 2024 and will have a full year of operation in 2025. The PPP promised to reverse the dramatic increases in drainage and irrigation fees, agriculture land lease rates, etc. and to reintroduce waiver programmes for VAT on agriculture and mining machinery. All these promises were provided for by the “biggest budget ever” of 2020 to 2025.
The PPP promised to create at least 50,000 new jobs, 50,000 new house lots, 20,000 scholarships for Guyanese to study online, new hospitals, new schools, new industrial centres, new sports facilities, new bridges and highways, generate more electricity, build capacity for non-fossil fuel generation of electricity, complete the Demerara River Bridge, reconstruct the
Linden Highway, build a bridge to Suriname, start the construction of the Linden to Lethem Highway, etc.
Ashni Singh’s “biggest budget ever” claims for Budgets in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 achieved these things and set a record for a 100 per cent adherence to the promises the PPP made in their 2020 manifesto and during the campaign.
In contrast, Jordon’s “biggest budget ever” were never about keeping the promises they made to the Guyanese people in their manifesto and during the campaign.
Indeed, every single budget that Jordon and the PNC-led APNU+AFC MPs boasted of as the “biggest budget ever” was a budget that disavowed any and all the promises they made.
They promised free university education; they increased the fees at UG. They promised a better programme than the Because We Care cash grant for children; instead, they replaced it with a few broken down buses and some bicycles and a couple of boats. They promised public servants and sugar workers a 20 per cent increase salaries and wages in their first 100 days; instead, they froze sugar workers’ wages and told public servants they must await their turn after giving themselves a 50 to 100 per cent increase in their salaries and benefits. They promised to double old-age pension in their first 100 days; instead, after five years, the pensioners went from $15,000 per month to $20,500 per month. They promised to increase the tax threshold to $100,000 in their first 100 days; instead, they barely increase from $50,000 in 2015 to $65,000 by 2020. They promised not to close any sugar estate; instead, they closed four. They promised more jobs; instead, they told young people to sell dog food and plantain chips on the road. They promised rice farmers $9,000 per bag of paddy; instead, they told the rice farmers they are private sector and are on their own. The list goes on and on.
The absolute truth is that for Jordon and the MPs from the PNC-led APNU+AFC, their boast of the “biggest budget ever” in 2015 and subsequently until 2020 were “tax and spend” budgets, rife with corruption. Their “biggest budget ever” were funded on the backs of the Guyanese people via new and increased taxation, burdened future generations with more debts, squandered the reserve, both foreign currency and local Guyanese dollar reserves, plundered the gold reserve and spent money recklessly without ever empowering the population, without ever improving the physical and social infrastructure and by destroying the mainstay of the economy –sugar, rice, mining.
The PPP will over the course of this debate demonstrate that their “biggest budget ever,” far from being empty sloganeering, propels the country forward and is a fierce testament to keeping promises, always with the people at the centre.
Dr. Leslie Ramsammy
Norton‘s rejection of Hughes: An Analysis
I believe Aubrey Norton has more respect for certain leaders in the PPP’s hierarchy than he has for Nigel Hughes and Raphael Trotman.
That belief came out of conversations with Aubrey long ago. I will go no further. For me, it was not surprising that Norton has rejected a Hughes consensus presidential candidate.
I still think that the PNC is considering two options – a presidential candidate from the PNC other than Norton or a consensus candidate but not Hughes. I knew Norton would have rejected Hughes for reasons of practical politics. Here are the factors why Norton rejected Hughes.
First, Norton thinks that the offer of the consensus position to Hughes would have been the PNC’s resurrection of a failed party that has now arisen from the dead and claiming ownership of the PNC itself. Norton feels that the PNC will be virtually conceding territory to a partner that is an infinitesimal political player.
Secondly, as a spin off from this, Norton views acceptance of a Hughes consensus choice by the PNC as a personal failure of Norton himself. The inescapable reality is that once Hughes was accepted, the juxtaposition was inevitable and the conclusion will
be “Nigel is the better man, Aubrey failed that is why the PNC chose Nigel.” I know how Norton feels about Hughes and Trotman and I would bet all that I have that Norton would have seen a Hughes consensus pick as a personal failure for him, Norton.
Thirdly, I believe Norton and top PNC bigwigs do not want Hughes as the consensus candidate because it relegates the PNC to second fiddle. I have spoken to some sensitively placed people in the PNC who are not opposed to another election round for APNU+AFC but they want the PNC to dictate the terms to the AFC which does not include guarantee of specific amount of seats.
Fourthly, PNC constituencies seem to have a problem with Hughes for binary reasons. They see it as their man versus the AFC’s point man – Nigel Hughes, and why should their guy give way to Nigel. Strangely, PNC constituencies would accept another PNC Leviathan other than Norton leading them into the 2025 poll and a consensus candidate but not Hughes.
I think the problem here is not one that Hughes created but what is reality – two big names competing to lead a coalition into the election and PNC constituencies do not want their big man conceding such an immense prize to a newcomer.
Fifthly, Norton believes in his mind that although he prefers coalition politics, the AFC cannot win votes because it is a spent force. So, Norton is not prepared to give any strategic or advantageous position to the AFC.
Norton’s position is unambiguous – yes, join us but we are the bigger ones so we will call the shots.
Having looked at the reasons for Norton rejecting Hughes, one must examine the practical situation as it currently exists. Hughes leading a coalition for the 2025 poll will automatically be seen all over this country as the AFC returning to politics and Guyanese do not want to see or hear about the AFC. The analyst must ask him/herself what about the AFC that Nigel doesn’t get. The AFC became dead meat a long time ago. Guyanese people will not vote for the AFC.
What Nigel is trying to accomplish in the AFC is mission impossible. The AFC has a terrible image in Guyana and the fundamental requirement for Nigel was to transform the AFC so deeply that it would look like a new organism. Sadly, and strangely, this is what Nigel doesn’t get. He sought leadership of the
AFC, and it is not a new or transformed AFC. It is the same old party with faces that people do not want to ever see in politics again. Nigel went into murky waters when he took over the leader position and failed to secure a high-level Indian name to be on the pyramid. As it stands, the number 1, 2, 3 and 4 positions are allotted to African Guyanese. Moses Nagamootoo and Khemraj Ramjattan are out of the hierarchy.
Is this the work of Nigel? My answer is no. Nigel simply could not have gotten a trusted Indian name to put that person in the hierarchy because such people have left the AFC since 2020, and they were not replaced. There is no high-profile Indian person in the AFC that could have run for the four top positions in the party.
I have not made up my mind about seat allocation for the AFC in November, but I believe the AFC may be facing total wipe out.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited.
Jagdeo rubbishes ‘amateur,’ ‘inept’ comments on Budget 2025
–– reminds opposition of its dismal track record
THE Opposition’s failure to acknowledge their record of under investments while in office was the subject of much criticism by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, who flayed them for their “inept” comments on Budget 2025.
The $1.38 trillion budget was presented last Friday and there has been a lot of commentary from the Opposition. Dr Jagdeo, during his weekly news conference on Thursday at Freedom House, dismissed and countered those critiques.
The general secretary spent a good amount of time dealing with the lofty promises being made by the Opposition, along with its misguided understanding of the technical document.
Starting off with the promises being rolled out by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), Dr Jagdeo said that the party is simply multiplying the government’s measures by three.
“We recognise [that] you can’t believe anything they say. Nothing! It’s because they said it before [and] they didn’t do it. They failed our children, our pensioners…” he said.
One of the recent promises by the PNCR/APNU is that there will be over $100,000 a month cash plus
benefits for households and $100,000 “hard cash” once or twice a year for adults.
“So, if you take $1.2 million per year and you multiply 300,000 households, and that’s a small number, we have more… Do you know how much you’re coming up with per year to give out here? That’s nearly a trillion Guyana dollars,” he explained, noting that this figure is more than the country’s total revenue.
Dr Jagdeo said that this is consistent with their mentality, which is “share out what we don’t have.”
Sharing every cent out is what Dr Jagdeo says is the Opposition’s economic policy, with no priority given to infrastructure, health and other sectors.
“That’s definition of lunacy, not an economic strategy,” he said.
Tackling the constant excuse by the Opposition that it did not have oil revenue, Dr Jagdeo pointed out the high taxation under the coalition administration.
Notably, oil revenue only financed 37 per cent of this year’s budget, he said.
Jagdeo also noted that every cent of the oil revenue is accounted for as there are transparency mechanisms in place.
He stated: “They increase the taxes and started collecting $90 billion more per year than they were col-
Body of unidentified male found in Sophia
THE body of an unidentified male body was discovered in a drain along Black and White Road in D Field Sophia, on Wednesday at approximately 14:15 hrs.
Police in a statement said that the victim is a male of East Indian descent.
Preliminary investigations revealed no visible signs of violence,
The body was transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he was pronounced dead and subsequently, the remains were taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, pending identification and a post-mortem examination.
lecting in 2015.” He pointed out that this was contrary to their promise to lower taxes.
ELITIST GROUP
The general secretary, who also serves as Guyana’s Vice President highlighted the lack of investments during 2015-2020 owing to the then-government’s “short-sightedness.”
Responding to APNU+AFC, he said: “They didn’t have oil money, but that didn’t constrain them from increasing their own salaries by 50 per cent, as soon as they got into office… If you didn’t have oil money, how is it that you have a special medical treatment for ministers and their families paid for by the taxpayer?
If you didn’t have oil money, how come we bought the billions of dollars of new vehicles for people in that period? The budget for new vehicles grew by that. How come we started spending over $1 billion more for rental of buildings for ministers and everyone else?”
Despite these expenditures, Dr Jagdeo highlighted that the citizens faced a
number of woes under the APNU+AFC administration such as the “Because We Care” cash grant being take from the children and value-added tax (VAT) being placed on electricity and water.
“It is not about how much money you have. It is about your orientation, their philosophy. This is an elitist group that work for themselves,” Dr Jagdeo said.
Under the PPP, the budget has increased to cater for the people under every sector. Major investments are being made in health, education and housing, with $175 billion, $143 billion and $112 billion earmarked respectively.
“That alone is $420 billion; just these three sectors…And [yet] they ask, where did the money go? It’s described in great detail where the money will go, to what projects they will go,” Dr. Jagdeo stated.
Slamming the Opposition for not working for the people, he said: “You know, they spent more money on building offices for ministers and upgrading administrative buildings than we are spending now in the period when we didn’t have
oil money. Because their comfort mattered more than the schools or the hospitals.”
Further, he then sharply criticised their comments on the infrastructure sector.
“Tell us, across Guyana, you name the communities that you don’t want us to build the roads in.
Because trust me, every single community wants their road done. Every person wants the road done in front of them and they don’t see this as a luxury. They see it as a necessity because they don’t want to walk around on a mud dam
or anything like that,” he firmly stated.
The PPP’s fiscal plan is centred on the people, in every sector. Speaking on this, he said: “That is how we have been tackling poverty, in multi-faceted ways, equipping people with the tools and doing it in a non-discriminatory manner.”
Given the comments by the Opposition, which lacked research and highlighted how they cannot chart Guyana forward.
“They’re bad for the country, bad for policymaking, etc,” he said.
PPP General Secretary and Guyana’s Vice President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo (Delano Williams Photo)
‘These are our people’
–– Dr Jagdeo says Guyanese deported from US will be accepted
GUYANESE will be accepted back home should they be deported from the United States, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, has said.
Dr Jagdeo said stated if Guyana can accept people coming from Venezuela, it can accept Guyanese.
“….if we can absorb them (Venezuelans) in our country and they’re work-
He made this position known during a press conference on Thursday at Freedom House when questioned about the United States impending immigration policies.
ing here and they’re living here decently, then why shouldn’t we do that for our own people if they were deported back home? This is home to them.
“These are our own people. Once they’re Guyanese and they’re verified to be Guyanese, then you have to take your people
back,” he said.
According to BBC, the new US President, Donald Trump, signed a series of immigration and border-related actions and decrees earlier this week which aim to deal with immigration matters.
According to the notice published externally on the
Federal Register’s website, the expedited removal procedure went into effect on the evening of January 21.
Officers can now employ the policy anywhere in the United States, whereas previously it was only applicable to undocumented migrants who were caught within 100 miles
(160 km) of the nation’s international borders.
“The effect of this change will be to enhance national security and public safety - while reducing government costs - by facilitating prompting immigration determinations,” the notice reads.
GPF gets $50M in enforcement equipment to enhance traffic management
–– Minister Edghill calls for ‘culture change’ on roadways
By Cindy Parkinson-Chowbay
AIMED at improving and enhancing traffic management, the Min -
Guyanese culture, and all drivers need to recognise that “one life loss on our roadway is one too many.”
their foremost focus has been implementing measures for road safety.
“Under this loan (LO2741/BL_GY), a traffic diagnostic action plan
Minister of Public Works Bishop Juan Edghill presents Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken with one of the new traffic management equipment
istry of Public Works in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), presented $50 million worth of enforcement equipment to the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
In his opening remarks at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) tarmac at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, on Thursday morning, Public Works Minister stressed that speeding has become a part of the
He noted that this is an issue affecting everyone in Guyana, one that is not imported or derived from a foreign source, but rather a problem that pertains to the culture, mindset, and behaviour of all road users.
According to him, while the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government has consistently prioritised the infrastructural development of community roads and highways since assuming office in 2020,
was done through a consultancy, and the report is now available...on some of the recommendations that are being made,” Minister Edghill shared.
Requesting the public to envision a scenario where an ambulance is transporting their loved ones to the hospital, with just 10 minutes to save a life and faced with the challenge of navigating speed bumps, Minister Edghill stated that although speed bumps are
page 12
Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken collects a traffic management equipment from Ms. Lorena Salazar, the IDB Country Representative
Duo on trial for murder of Bourda Market vendor
TWO men have been brought to trial for the 2018 murder of wellknown Bourda Market vendor, Troy Ramalho.
The case is being heard before Justice Navindra Singh and a jury at the Demerara High Court. Both accused, Akeem Morris and Roy Sandiford have pleaded not guilty.
Morris, a 32-year-old miner from Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown, and Sandiford, a 39-yearold resident of Section “A” Sophia, Georgetown have been charged with the fatal shooting of Ramalho during a robbery.
The charge alleged that the duo murdered the victim during the course or
furtherance of a robbery, on August 15, 2018, in the vicinity of Bourda Market, Georgetown.
The prosecution, led by attorneys Muntaz Ali and Christopher Belfield, has presented evidence suggesting that Ramalho, a 45-year-old vendor known for selling cheese and eggs in front of “Rambarran’s” on Robb Street, Georgetown,
was ambushed at around 23:00 hours. on the night of the incident.
Reports state that Ramalho resisted the robbery attempt, which led to him being shot by one of the three armed assailants.
Ramalho, who was a familiar face in the area, was struck by gunfire during the confrontation, which occurred while he was going about his usual trade. Despite the efforts of those nearby to assist, the vendor succumbed to his injuries.
Akeem Morris is being represented by attorney Kiswana Jefford, while Sandiford’s defence attorney is Dexter Todd.
GPF gets $50M in enforcement equipment ...
important and necessary in certain instances, they are not ideal in every situation.
The Public Works Minister said: “While there is a big demand for speed bumps, it is not the answer. It might suppress speeding, but it will also interfere with accessibility at a very crucial time, where minutes make a difference between life and death.
“While everyone may want speed bumps, I am making a call this morning, at the individual level, [that] we
must have a culture change as it relates to traffic and the use of our roads in Guyana.”
Minister Edghill further stated that while he and his ministry will continue to support the GPF in upholding the laws of Guyana, he is charging Traffic Chief, Senior Superintendent Mahendra Singh and his team, to ensure that illegal vending, containers, and debris are removed from the roadways.
According to him, these impediments are clearly dan-
gerous for both drivers and pedestrians and must not be tolerated.
Meanwhile, Lorena Salazar, the IDB Country Representative, in her presentation, took the opportunity to urge drivers to exercise caution while navigating the roadways.
According to her, they should realise that the onus is on them to ensure that they look out for themselves, their fellow drivers, and those who they are responsible for trans-
porting.
She added, “It is better to lose one minute of your time than to lose your life in a minute.”
Ms. Salazar also mentioned that IDB is pleased to collaborate with Guyana to improve road safety across the country.
Expressing gratitude for the donation, Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken, noted that the GPF is satisfied with the new equipment, which will significantly contribute to the
ongoing modernisation of its traffic operations.
Some of the equipment include nine cameras, 50 wheel clamps, five single-zone direction sensing radars, and one portable speed bump-modular segment.
Additionally, items were procured for the ministry’s road safety interventions.
These include five-number digital speed measuring devices, 10 LED-powered YIELD signs, and 10 LED-powered STOP signs.
From page 11
These upgrades, according to the Ministry of Public Works, are aimed at improving visibility, promoting compliance with traffic regulations, and ensuring safer roadways for all citizens.
Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ Ravindradat Budhram, the traffic chief, Senior Engineer of the Ministry of Public Works Kester Hinds, other officials and ranks of the Guyana Police Force were all in attendance.
Troy Ramalho Akeem Morris Roy Sandiford
Nandlall calls out Hughes’ duplicitousness on Govt’s ambitious infrastructure development
–– maintains the AFC leader lacks credibility, unfit to be President
ATTORNEY-GENERAL and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, has publicly criticised leader of the Alliance for Change (AFC), Attorney Nigel Hughes for what he described as duplicity concerning Guyana’s ongoing infrastructure development.
Speaking on Tuesday evening during his weekly programme, “Issues in the News,” Nandlall accused Hughes of being hypocritical about the People’s Progres-
landscape of this country. His is a narrative that is absolutely unbelievable, absolutely without credibility, absolutely without merit, and absolutely duplicitous. That is what epitomises everything he says and everything that he does,” Nandlall said during his programme.
The Attorney-General said that Hughes has been traveling around the country, photographing dilapidated buildings and bad roads, and sharing them on social media.
sive Party/Civic (PPP/C) government’s transformative projects.
Hughes recently made several public comments about the government’s extensive infrastructure agenda outlined in the $1.382 trillion 2025 Budget, which includes plans for new roads, bridges, and other public works.
In his statements, Hughes claimed that the budget places greater emphasis on infrastructure development while neglecting the basic needs of the population.
However, in response, Nandlall emphasised that Hughes’ criticism lacks credibility given his previous endorsements of similar initiatives. “It is duplicity, hypocrisy, and absolute mediocrity that is laid before you. I have repeatedly said that this gentleman has now been reduced to bringing comic relief to the political
He stated that the AFC leader visited an Amerindian community and drew attention to the fact that children were compelled to use pit latrines at their school.
Nandlall added that Hughes took photos and claimed there were no buildings in another indigenous community to accommodate the children for their classes, suggesting they were forced to attend classes under trees due to the lack of infrastructure.
The Ministry of Education has since clarified that this claim was incorrect. The Ministry said that the children were not under the trees because of a lack of buildings but rather because the teachers had decided to hold classes outdoors to let the children enjoy the natural environment.
Hughes, Nandlall added, has highlighted these images
as evidence, questioning how such conditions persist in Guyana, an oil-producing nation, and the fastest-growing economy in the world.
“Let us assume that we didn’t have the building, and our children are attending classes in the open air under trees. Let us assume that all of this is correct. This is him [Hughes] showing you the state of the country’s infrastructure and cussing the government for not fixing the infrastructure. And when the government puts money in the budget to build the very thing that he is asking for, he says, ‘So the people gonna eat concrete? The people gonna eat infrastructure?’ How do you take a politician like this seriously?” the AG questioned.
AG Nandlall reasoned, “I am not saying that the budget is perfect. I’m not saying that the PPP is perfect at all. I believe that we have many faults. And I also expect an opposition politician to be critical of the government, but I expect basic common sense in their criticisms. And common sense is lacking. You can’t be complaining about pit latrines, and when we are building the toilets that you are clamoring for, you’ve got a problem with that too...”
He added: “Are you going to place your children’s welfare, your future, your lives, and the future of this country in the hands of a man who is so duplicitous? A man who engages in such blatant sophistry? This is a guy that you would take seriously?”
Minister Nandlall then responded to Hughes’ argument, which claimed that the government’s infrastructure projects were for the “family and friends” of the PPP/C. Nandlall dismissed this as baseless, stating that the individuals involved in government projects come from all ethnic groups.
“Why are you envious of the contractors? Come and join them so you can become a beneficiary as well,” he said.
Nandlall further rejected the opposition’s claims that international companies involved in major projects in Guyana, such as the new Demerara River bridge, have ties to members of the PPP/C government.
During his programme he reiterated his stance that that the AFC leader is unfit to be President, citing what
he called a pattern of inconsistent and self-serving behaviour.
“That man should not be any place close to a government. They care not about their credibility,” he pointed out.
Earlier this week, AFC’s executive committee endorsed Hughes as the party’s presidential candidate.
Nandlall has praised Budget 2025 for its people-centred approach, highlighting its significant fiscal investment in infrastructure, social services, and cost-of-living relief, which will benefit all sectors and Guyanese.
Attorney-General Anil Nandlall, SC
AFC’s Nigel Hughes
GNBS engages stakeholders on development of a National Standardisation Strategy
THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) on Thursday hosted a one-day stakeholder engagement session in collaboration with the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) under the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Quali -
ty infrastructure Programme, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
Together with these organisations the GNBS is embarking on the development of a National Standardisation Strategy (NSS).
As a national standards
body, the GNBS has been a key partner in the adoption, development and implementation of national, regional and international standards in Guyana.
Over the last year alone, 33 national standards were approved for agriculture, tourism, petroleum, and other sectors. Additionally, 210 copies
of more than 600 available standards were sold for implementation by various industry partners during 2024.
The Executive Director of the GNBS, Trevor Bassoo in his remarks during the opening ceremony said that while he acknowledges that standards are voluntary, he is certain the
growth path of Guyana’s economy will come to use more of these standards.
He said: “I’d like to point out that GNBS has been working in standards development, not only at a national level, but also at regional and international levels. Particularly, we work closely with organisations such as CROSQ and the ISO to ensure that your voices are reflected in the standards developed by these organisations.”
Bassoo explained that this project provides a roadmap for the GNBS to effectively utilise standards towards building economic growth and social progress, guided by the framework of safety, quality, and reliability.
He noted that collaboration between government, industry, academia, consumers and other stakeholders will ensure that
standards developed over the next year will meet the needs of all parties.
Meanwhile, in congratulating the GNBS, the Chief Executive Officer of CROSQ, Sharonmae Smith-Walker, said the project is also being implemented in six other CARICOM Member States, Bahamas, Belize, Dominica, Haiti, St Kitts and Nevis, and Suriname.
Smith-Walker explained that a national standardisation strategy allows Guyana to align its national standards with international best practices. This, she noted, is important because it harmonises national and regional strategies with what exists in the rest of the world.
“This will enable seamless integration of Guyanese products into international value
CEO of CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ) Sharonmae Smith (Delano Williams Photos)
Executive Director of the GNBS Trevor Bassoo
–– applauds relief measures, absence of new taxes, projected economic growth
GCCI pleased with Budget 2025
The following is the full statement issued by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Thursday:
“THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) extends congratulations to the Government of Guyana on the presentation of the $1.382 trillion 2025 National Budget under the theme ‘A Secure, Prosperous, and Sustainable Guyana’— which was notably an increase of 20.6 per cent from the 2024 National Budget, with no new taxes.
As Guyana’s development continues on an upward trajectory, the Chamber is pleased with the projected GDP growth of 10.6 per cent for 2025, coupled with the anticipated 13.8 per cent growth in the non-oil economy this year. With these projections, Guyana is expected to remain the world’s third fastest growing economy. This comes on the heels of the country’s noteworthy economic performance in 2024—43.6 per cent overall and an increase of 13.1 percent in the nonoil economy.
Guyana’s development and outstanding economic performance requires prudent economic management and measures, and the Chamber has taken note of several interventions that cater to increasing sectoral performances sustainably, while investing in socio-economic development.
The Chamber wishes to firstly applaud the Government for increasing the income tax threshold to $130,000, while decreasing the PAYE rate to 25 per cent, thereby increasing employees’ disposable income. These measures, in conjunction with several other cash
injections through oneoff cash grants, annual cash grants, and old age pensions and public assistance increases, as well as measures to alleviate the cost-of-living amount to a keen focus on improving citizens’ welfare.
The GCCI also commends the increased investment in the agriculture, extractives, manufacturing, construction, and services sectors, particularly given the projected sectoral growth.
Additionally, the Chamber has noted the strong focus on infrastructural development and the energy sector. It is crucial that focus be placed on aligning the country’s infrastructure with the increased investment interests—especially as it relates to energy and transportation infrastructure.
Among the numerous projects announced, the Chamber wishes to highlight the focus on small business development with the injection of $3 billion for the establishment of industrial estates in Regions Two, Three, Four and 10.
This, in addition to the proposed removal of
import VAT on machinery used in the agriculture sector, the removal of VAT on automated poultry pens and veterinary supplies, and backup generators, as well as measures to reduce freight costs are welcomed interventions.
Over the years, the GCCI has continued to highlight challenges with the labour shortage, as such, the move to invest heavily in the education sector—including the funding of the University of Guyana and other technical institutes across the country, thereby removing tuition—must be commended as a step in the right direction. This will further enhance the country’s workforce and ability to meet the needs of all sectors—particularly the oil and gas industry.
The GCCI remains resolute in its role as an advocate for economic development and increased standard of living in Guyana.
The Chamber supports the Government of Guyana in these initiatives and welcomes Budget 2025 as a vehicle for continued growth and development.”
Georgia: Malaria-free certification ‘a huge milestone worth marking’
THE country of Georgia has been certified malaria-free following a nearly century-long fight to combat the disease, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced on Thursday.
It now joins 45 coun -
Regional Director for Europe, said Georgia’s achievement “is a huge milestone worth marking” as it brings Europe another step closer to being certified as the first malaria-free region in the world.
“This doesn’t happen
tries and one territory that have achieved this milestone.
“Today we congratulate the people of Georgia for their decades of targeted and sustained actions to eliminate malaria, one of the world’s leading killers,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General.
ABOUT WHO CERTIFICATION
Malaria is spread by some types of mosquitoes and is mostly found in tropical countries.
The infection is caused by a parasite and does not spread from person to person. The disease is both preventable and curable.
Symptoms can be mild or life-threatening, Mild symptoms are fever, chills, and headache, while severe ones include fatigue, confusion, seizures, and difficulty breathing.
WHO certifies a country as malaria-free after it has proven, beyond reasonable doubt, that transmission has been interrupted nationwide for at least the previous three consecutive years.
Dr. Hans Kluge, WHO
in a vacuum, this was made possible thanks to sustained investment, dedication of the health workforce and targeted efforts in prevention, early detection and effective treatment of all malaria cases,” he said.
A LONG BATTLE
Malaria has plagued Georgia since ancient times, WHO noted.
Before the introduction of systematic control efforts in the early 1900s, at least three malaria parasite species - P. falciparum, P. malariae and P. vivax - were endemic there. In the 1920s, roughly 30 per cent of the population suffered from malaria caused by the P. vivax malaria species.
By 1940, large-scale mosquito control programmes had helped reduce malaria cases significantly through improved access to diagnostic and treatment facilities. However, the Second World War caused cases to surge again due to population movement and the strain on health facilities.
During the post-war period, Georgia launched an intensive programme
focused on eliminating malaria, using newer medicines, insecticide spraying and robust entomological surveillance. The campaign successfully interrupted the transmission of P. falciparum by 1953, P. malariae by 1960 and P. vivax by 1970.
The country remained malaria-free for 25 years, but by 2002 the disease had reemerged, with 474 cases reported.
RENEWED COMMITMENT
In 2005, Georgia and nine other countries in the WHO European Region signed the Tashkent Declaration, reaffirming its pledge to eliminate malaria.
The intensified interventions that followed significantly reduced malaria incidence in Georgia, with the last indigenous case recorded in 2009. By 2015, all 53 countries of the WHO European Region, including Georgia, reported zero indigenous cases.
To prevent further re-establishment of malaria transmission in the region, the original signatories of the Tashkent Declaration issued the Ashgabat Statement in 2017, committing to take all efforts to remain malaria-free.
Türkiye is the only country in the WHO European Region still to be certified. (UN)
Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia (Unsplash/Mostafa Meraji photo)
Narcotics found, one arrested
ACTING on information received on January 20, 2025, a party of police officers from Providence Police Station, proceeded to Peter’s Hall Public Road in the vicinity of M&M Snackette where a 47-year-old male of African descent was observed sitting in the bus shed with a backpack on his back.
A search of his backpack revealed three bulky parcels containing a quantity of leaves, seeds, and stems suspected to be cannabis.
He was then arrested and escorted to Providence Police Station where the narcotics were then weighed and amounted to 1659 grammes.
The man was placed into custody pending further investigation and charges. (GPF)
GNBS engages stakeholders ...
From page 14
chains, creating greater trade opportunities for the country.
The standardisation strategy is a critical tool to protect as well, the wellbeing of Guyanese citizens through better quality, local products, and services; and more importantly, to safeguard your constituents from poor quality imports,” the CROSQ CEO said.
In 2022 CROSQ revised its standardisation strategy, the regional standards development priority plan. This plan seeks to guide the direction of regional standards development work over the next few years and to ensure that we manage the expectation of Member States and provide a basis for efficient and effective resource utilisation.
According to Smith-Walker, it is hoped that standardisation efforts will not be duplicated but will ensure that member states have a clear strategic direction that will ensure that the priorities are supported by the applicable national, regional, and international standards.
Some of the key topics of discussion included: insights into the development of the National Standardisation Strategy; validation of findings from desk research; and sharing organisational priorities to shape standards aligned with Guyana’s economic, social, and environmental goals.
Man wanted 11 years charged with murder
THIRTY-EIGHT-YEAR-
OLD Bennie Charles Adams, a farmer of Campbelltown Village, Potaro, Region #8 was arrested on 2025-01-19 and charged on 2025-01-23 with the offence of murder contrary to common law,
committed on sixty-sixyear-old Gilbert Adams, a farmer of Manawarin Village, North West District, Region #1.
The offence was allegedly committed on 2013-05-22 at Manawarin Village, Region # 1, North
West District.
The accused who had evaded law enforcement for eleven years appeared at Acquero Magistrate’s Court Region #1, North West District on Thursday before Magistrate Mr R. Mohabir via Zoom where the charge
was read to him, and he was not required to plea, hence he was remanded to prison.
The case was put down to 2025-03-03 for statements. (GPF)
The narcotics police allegedly found during a search of a man’s backpack
Bennie Charles Adams
BNick embracing melodic and directorial talents Telling powerful stories through music:
By Faith Greene
CREATIVE and versatile—these are just a few words that perfectly describe Guyana’s dancehall and reggae star, BNick.
At 27, BNick, who is formally known as Nicholas Alphonso, has already carved out a name for himself in the music scene with his infectious tunes and cinematic music videos.
His 2022 hit "Mama I'm Sorry" and his debut dancehall single, "Born Great," have captured the hearts of fans across the country.
In an exclusive interview with Buzz this week, BNick opened up about his humble beginnings. Hailing from the Cinderella County of Essequibo,
he shared how he never saw music as something that could easily be done.
“I think I was in like form one or two, and they had a group of guys in school; they used to bring music to school that they recorded on their phone or earpiece and they put it on a beat and stuff like that. And that was when it kind of opened my eyes to the possibilities, we don't need a big, proper studio in order to make music.”
Music, he says, became a form of therapy.
"It might sound cliché, but it’s true," BNick admitted.
"Most artistes say it, but I don’t think we can say it enough. Music is therapeutic. It’s amazing to create something from scratch, see it through to the end, and then watch how the fans or commu-
nity appreciate it just like you do."
While BNick started his musical journey in rap and hip-hop, with some reggae influences, dancehall found its way into his life between the ages of 19 and 20. He recalled his first experience with the genre, when he tried out a dancehall beat made by his brother.
That successful attempt birthed his debut single "Born Great."
As his fan base continued to grow, BNick expressed how rewarding it feels to know that people connect with his music on a personal level. "It’s a really good feeling to see that people love my music and can relate to it in such a personal way."
In addition to writing his own songs, BNick is
highly involved in the creation of his music videos.
“I love creating stories and I feel like the music (specifically the writing of his songs) is limiting me in that area. So, like most instances, I don’t want to say too much, you know; if you say too much in a song, it becomes boring,” he added, “So I end up having to go back most times. But with the videos I could be as creative or express them as I want, like without limits and whatnot.”
Alongside his music career, BNick also manages his own record label, Timeless Music. Fans can find his music on YouTube (@BNick Official), as well as on Spotify and Apple Music (@BNick).
Dancehall/Reggae Artiste, Bnick
Valiant headlines
1st Livewire at UBTR
USAIN Bolt’s Tracks & Records (UBTR), DJ Mac, and YungKingz Entertainment have announced the staging of Livewire, a live music event series, scheduled to start on January 29, 2025 in Kingston.
viding a platform for both established and emerging Jamaican talent,” said Nick Taylor, group operations manager for Tracks & Records. “We’re excited to host Valiant and JQuan, along with DJ Mac, for what will
The first show will be headlined by Jamaican dancehall sensation Valiant, who will perform alongside a full band, offering fans an unforgettable live music experience.
Joining him will be rising dancehall star, JQuan, while the evening’s entertainment will also feature sets from chart-topping producer DJ Mac and World Baba.
Known for delivering memorable live music experiences, Usain Bolt’s Tracks & Records continues its tradition of showcasing the best in Jamaican entertainment.
Livewire promises to be an unmissable event, blending the authentic sounds of dancehall with a world-class performance ambience in an acclaimed venue.
“Livewire is a testament of our commitment to pro-
surely be a night to remember.”
Valiant, a crowd-favourite with his energetic stage presence and chart-topping hits, is set to deliver a performance that highlights the dynamic spirit of dancehall.
Complementing him, JQuan will bring his fresh talent and unique sound, solidifying his place as a rising force in the genre.
“We are excited to partner with DJ Mac and Tracks and Records to produce one of the most highly anticipated events of the season. The line-up we have crafted is quality entertainment and represents the true positioning of dancehall culture as it stands,” shared Carlton Davy of YungKingz Entertainment Jamaica Observer
CRICKET QUIZ CORNER
THURSDAY , JANUARY 23, 2025
Keys stuns Swiatek to set up Sabalenka title showdown
MADISON Keys saved a match point before stunning world number two Iga Swiatek to set up an Australian Open final against two-time defending champion, Aryna Sabalenka.
Keys claimed a shock 5-7 6-1 7-6 (10-8) victory over five-time Grand Slam champion, Swiatek, to reach the second major final of her career.
Poland’s Swiatek served for the match at 6-5 in the third set and held match point but Keys saved it, broke back and then recovered from 7-5 down in a fraught tie-breaker to advance.
That came after Belarusian top seed Sabalenka earned the chance to become the first woman in 26 years to win three successive Australian Open titles with a commanding 6-4 6-2 win over close friend Paula Badosa.
While Keys has achieved a career-best Australian Open run, Sabalenka is aiming to emulate Martina Hingis’
three straight titles between 1997-99.
“I have goosebumps. I am so proud of myself and my team that we were able to put ourselves in such a situation,”
Sabalenka said
“If I put my name in history it will mean the world for me. I couldn’t even dream of it.”
Swiatek’s loss also means Sabalenka will retain the world number one ranking after the tournament.
Swiatek had been in imperious form in Melbourne,
GFF President commends government’s unprecedented investment in sport
ON behalf of the entire football fraternity, I extend heartfelt congratulations to His Excellency, President Dr. Irfaan Ali, and the Honourable Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson, on their unwavering commitment and remarkable leadership in advancing sports in Guyana.
We commend President Ali for his clarity of vision regarding the transformative power of sports in uniting our diverse peoples and communities.
His Excellency’s steadfast dedication to fostering national cohesion through sports is truly inspiring and has set a strong foundation for a brighter future.
Furthermore, we wish to acknowledge and congratulate His Excellency for the steady and unprecedented investment in sports across the nation.
This commitment is already yielding encouraging signs of success, as evidenced by the marked improvements in various sporting disciplines.
The ongoing progress stands as a testament to the intended return on these strategic investments, bringing renewed hope and opportunities to athletes and communities alike.
While the development of physical sporting infrastructure across Guyana remains a work in progress, the numerous projects currently underway clearly indicate that we are moving in the right direction.
The tireless efforts being put into enhancing facilities nationwide reflect a long-term vision that will undoubtedly benefit generations to come.
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is proud to support and contribute to this transformative agenda.
We remain committed to playing our part through the ongoing construction of the National Training Centre (NTC) and the Blue Water Shipping Stadium, alongside various community projects planned for this year.
These initiatives align with our shared vision of creating a dynamic and inclusive sporting environment that fosters excellence and growth.
Once again , congratulations to President Ali and Minister Ramson on their extraordinary leadership and dedication to the advancement of sports in Guyana.
We look forward to continued collaboration in building a stronger, more united sporting community and country- Stronger Together.(GFF)
losing just 14 games across her five matches before the semi-finals.
For context, only three players in history have dropped fewer games in making the last four at the Australian Open in a 128-player draw during the Open era.
However, the four-time French Open winner was undone by an inspired Keys, determined to win an Australian Open semi-final at the third attempt.
A messy start featuring
five breaks of serve in the opening six games set the tone for an awkward night under Rod Laver Arena roof for Swiatek, who broke for a fourth time to take the first set before capitulating in the second.
Keys took just 27 minutes to overwhelm Swiatek reeling off five straight games to force a deciding set.
Both players saved numerous break points as the tension ramped up during an enthralling, high-quality deciding set
Swiatek eventually took her eighth opportunity to break for a 6-5 lead but, after failing to take her first match point, conceded serve with a double fault.
A winner-takes -all tiebreak was what Keys and the match deserved but Swiatek looked to be in control of it at 7-5 up.
However, in a final impressive show of physical and mental resilience, Keys
won five of the next six points to complete a sensational win after two hours and 35 minutes.
History-chasing
Sabalenka puts aside friendship
Top seed Sabalenka previously described Badosa as her “soulmate” but she successfully put aside their off-court relationship to continue her pursuit of a third successive triumph at Melbourne Park.
Sabalenka, winner of both the Australian Open and US Open last year, quickly went a break down against Badosa, and the Spaniard was within a point of taking a 3-0 lead.
But Sabalenka emphatically hit back, winning 12 of the next 16 games to record her 20th straight victory at the tournament.
The two barely ex -
changed a glance as they focused on their respective tasks but they shared relieved smiles after Badosa fell early in the second set before raising a reassuring thumb as she lay on the court.
What started as a fiercely-contested match began to drift away from first-time major semi-finalist Badosa when she gifted Sabalenka control of set two, conceding a break of serve with backto-back double faults
Another in the fifth game then allowed Sabalenka to break for a second time with one of her 32 winners, before she served out victory in one hour and 26 minutes.
Sabalenka, later seen consoling Badosa in the players’ area, said: “It was a super tough match against a friend, I’m super happy to see her at her highest level.”(BBC Sport)
GCA first and second division two-day cricket resumes this weekend -NBS second division 40-overs
By Sean Devers
THE Georgetown Cricket Association ( GCA), GISE, Star Party Rental and Trophy Stall first division two-day and GCA and Friends of Cricket second division two-day cricket tournaments are scheduled for this weekend as ‘red ball’ cricket resumes.
The New Building Society (NBS) 40-overs second division tournament is also set continue over the weekend.
There have been calls from players, former players, sports journalists and fans for ‘two-innings’ red ball cricket to be played more often at first division level.
In the past players from Berbice and Essequibo would travel to Demerara to participate in Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) three-day first division competition held from Friday to Sunday and contested between the top five City teams and West
Demerara, East Bank and East Coast.
Those days are long gone and the GCA first division cricket is now the pinnacle of ‘Red Ball’ first division cricket in Guyana where players from Berbice, Essequibo and ‘out of town’ still come to participate
The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), in the past hosted a three-day first division tournament from Upper Corentyne in region six to West Berbice in Region five.
Matches were in two zones (Corentyne) and (NA/Canjie and West Berbice) with the top two teams from each zone clashing in County-wide semi-finals.
Matches were played on Saturday and Sunday and concluded on the next Saturday with a 50over tournament played on the free Sunday.
But since 2018 there has been no Red-ball first division played in Berbice
According to former BCB
also to be played
president Hilbert Foster “The sponsors only invest in T20 tournaments while it’s difficult to organise two-day cricket since many of the players can’t play on Saturdays because of jobs or businesses.”
Chairman of GCA and Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Competitions Committees, Shawn Massiah explained why two-day cricket is not played as often as it should in Georgetown.
“The problem is clubs don’t guarantee two consecutive days for GCA from a prolonged period because of other activities held on their grounds to generate funds to maintain the clubs.
It’s very expensive to run cricket clubs but must find a way to keep cricket alive…another problem is the adverse weather.”
GCA fixtures for the weekend:
On Saturday 25th/Sunday 26th January, 2025 GISE Star Party
Rental and Trophy Stall 1st Division 2 days:
Police vs. GCC at Police 9:oo hours start
GDF vs Transport at QC pitch # 1 at 9:oo hours start
Transport vs GDF at Transport at 10:30 hours start
On Saturday 25th January, NBS 2nd Division 40 overs:
Eldorado vs Diplomats at DCC start time 10:30 hours
MSC vs GCC at MSC. Start time 10:30 hours
Police vs PFA Agricola at QC pitch #3
Everest vs ACE Warriors at GCC. Start time 10:30 hours
On Sunday 26th January, NBS 2nd Division 40 overs: GCC vs Sophia at GCC 10:30 hours start.
DCC vs MSC at DCC start time 10:30 hours start. Bel Air Rubis vs Ace Warriors at MSC, 10:30 hours start.
ICC chair Shah joins new MCC global advisory board
INTERNATIONAL Cricket Council (ICC) chair, Jay Shah, has joined the Marylebone Cricket Club’s new global advisory board, which will replace its world cricket committee.
The board was spawned out of the World Cricket Connects forum hosted by the MCC at Lord’s in 2024 when 120 of the leading voices in the sport gathered to discuss the game.
The MCC said it wants the board, which will meet virtually
in the main, to be a “leading symposium” in the sport “to ensure cricket’s future success”.
Shah, 36, became the youngest ever chairman of the ICC when he succeeded New Zealander Greg Barclay in December 2024.
He is the former secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and one of the most powerful figures in the world game.
The advisory board will be chaired by former Sri Lanka
captain, Kumar Sangakkara, who served as MCC president from October 2019 to September 2021 and was the first non-British person to hold the role
Former international captains Sir Andrew Strauss and Graeme Smith as well as current England women’s captain Heather Knight have also accepted offers to join the advisory board.
MCC chair Mark Nicholas said: “We have assembled an
impressive group of the best minds in cricket across several different areas relevant to our sport.
“I am delighted to be working with this experienced group and excited about what we can collectively achieve for the benefit of the global game.”
Based at Lord’s, which it owns, the MCC acts as custodian and arbiter of the laws and spirit of cricket. ( BBC Sport )
Madison Keys is on an 11-match winning streak
Aryna Sabalenka beat Qinwen Zheng in straight sets in last year’s Australian Open final
IBA President and CEO addressed USA President Donald Trump in an open letter
Dear President Trump, IT is with great respect that we would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations on your inauguration as the President of the United States of America. This momentous occasion marks not only a new chapter in your distinguished political career but also a pivotal moment for the United States and the global community.
Your experience and vision will undoubtedly shape the future of the United States, and your decisions will profoundly influence international relations on a global level. We, along with many across the world, look forward with anticipation to the positive impact of your second term in office.
We would also like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for your strong and principled stance regarding the inadmissibility in the participation of ineligible athletes in women’s boxing competition , which you expressed during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Your commitment to ensuring fair competition and protecting the integrity of women’s sports is commendable and resonates deeply within the sports community. It is vital that all athletes compete on a level playing field, and your stance in this matter is a significant step towards achieving that goal.
The International Boxing Association (IBA) wholeheartedly welcomes and supports the recent legislation passed by the U.S. Congress that prohibits the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports. This law aligns perfectly with our re-invigorated policy work, aimed at promoting gender
equality and safeguarding the health and well-being of female athletes. We believe that this approach not only protects the integrity of women’s sports but also fosters an environment where all athletes can thrive and compete both safely and fairly.
tional governing bodies to reconsider and amend their regulations in order to avoid similar incidents of dispute and inequity in the future. We sincerely hope that your leadership on this issue will energize discussions across global sports communities,
ed to athletes, coaches, and National Federations, and that the medals won by the athletes, which they have worked towards their entire careers, are made of genuine and quality materials.
Worthy of note, the International Olympic Committee
The recent cases of heated debates over the inclusion of transgender athletes in female categories, however, highlight the urgent need for clearer international regulations and guidelines. In particular, we look towards the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which we believe will benefit from renewed leadership to take place in March this year and a willingness to adopt regulations that ensure equal opportunity for all athletes while respecting the historically understood categories of gender in sports.
We believe that it is of paramount importance for the IOC and other interna-
encouraging pragmatic policies that respect and protect both the rights and competitive opportunities of all athletes.
The International Boxing Association takes pride in being the sole governing body for boxing that respects the inherent rights of every athlete, while also valuing and respecting the unique cultures and values of each nation. IBA provides a platform for boxers to proudly represent their countries and earn a significant income through a substantial prize money fund established for all continental and World Championships. IBA ensures that all earnings are allocat-
(IOC) and its current leadership have, unfortunately, led the Olympic movement towards a decline through their short-sighted actions and poor governance. In fact, they have announced in the last 12 months that boxing will not be part of the Olympic program for LA28; it would be very much appreciated if your team could look in to this situation. It is disappointing to see political agendas influencing sports, discrimination against athletes based on their nationality, and mishandling of funds in the Olympic movement. It is shameful that the only reward athletes receive for their countless hours of training
and numerous sacrifices are medals made of low-quality metals. This is evident by the fact that many athletes have returned their medals to the IOC after the Paris 2024 Games . The International Boxing Association firmly believes that significant prize-money funds should be available for all sports disciplines at future Olympic Games editions, with the LA28 being the first to lead the way.
With the upcoming renewal of leadership in the IOC in March, IBA expects the IOC to undergo restructuring, revitalization of key positions, and significant governance reforms. This will undoubtedly revive the Olympic movement and enable the provision of fair conditions, competition opportunities, and a prosperous future for the athletes.
IBA hopes that these positive changes will occur during your presidency, as we are confident that you share our belief that sport is first and foremost a tool for peace. We hope that international sports associations, including the IOC, will act as peacemakers in times of conflict. We believe that you share our vision that the athletes should be at the forefront of any sports organization and their interests should always prevail.
As the President and Secretary General & CEO of the IBA, we also want to express our eagerness to collaborate with your administration on initiatives that will promote the development of boxing in the United States. We are committed to working together to create equitable practices in sports and to support the athletes who dedicate their lives to this noble pursuit.
By joining forces, we can ensure that boxing continues to flourish and that the rights of all athletes are upheld in all aspects of both national and international sports. Boxing, as you well know, is an immensely popular sport in the United States, and those millions of boxing fans, your constituents, will greatly appreciate your continued efforts to promote and develop this classic sport in the amateur and professional space. The last IBA World Boxing Championships in the United States took place in 2007 in Chicago . We are very interested in bringing this event back to your country, and we are more than ready to collaborate in this regard. We are of course aware of your subject matter expertise in the sport, namely as a professional boxing promoter throughout the 80’s and 90’s, along with those fine moments of tremendous boxing history taking place within your very own prestigious Trump Plaza. It would be great to bring back those momentous historical occasions during your term of Presidential head of state and government. In addition, we sincerely hope that boxing will be part of the celebrations in Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, and will indeed become a great showcase of genuine love to the sport from American nation and fans worldwide. Thank you for your attention to these important matters. We look forward with great optimism to the possibility of working together to make the Olympic movement great again, advance the sport of boxing and to champion the rights of athletes globally.
Dates revealed for ICC Awards 2024 Winners announcement
OUTSTANDING
Men’s and Women’s international cricketers will be honoured across five days of announcements, starting today (Friday).
The first set of announcements will feature the five premier ICC teams of the year, celebrating the standout XIs across Men’s cricket (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is), and Women’s cricket (ODIs and T20Is) as selected by the ICC Voting Academy.
Awards for the individual categories will also begin from January 25, with the announcement of Men’s and Women’s T20I Cricketer of the Year on that day.
The previous year featured a rich flavour of international cricket across formats, including engrossing Test and ODI action across the globe,
and also two T20 World Cups - in the Men’s and Women’s format. Top individual performers will be rewarded in the upcoming awards, which were first established in 2004. Among the nominees are stars who lit the global stage with their breathtaking performances including Melie Kerr, Jasprit Bumrah, Laura Wolvaardt, Travis Head, Joe Root
and Chamari Athapaththu. Winners in individual categories are determined by both the ICC Voting Academy and votes received by fans at icc-cricket.com.
After the shortlists were announced in nine of the 12 individual award categories last month, a 12-day voting period saw an independent panel of prominent media
– the ICC Voting Academy – select their top performers alongside global cricket fans, resulting in a staggering 1.5 million votes cast at icc-cricket.com.
Announcement
Schedule:
Friday January 24
Men’s ODI Team of the Year
Women’s ODI Team of the Year
Men’s Test Team of the Year
Saturday January 25
Women’s T20I Team of the Year
Men’s T20I Team of the Year
ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year
ICC Women’s T20I
Cricketer of the Year
Sunday January 26
ICC Umpire of the Year
ICC Men’s Associate Cricketer of the Year
ICC Women’s Associate Cricketer of the Year
ICC Emerging Men’s Cricketer of the Year
ICC Emerging Women’s Cricketer of the Year
Monday January 27
ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year
ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year
ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year
Tuesday January 28
Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy for ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year
Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year. ( ICC Media )
Delegates at the IBA Congress
Chamari Athapaththu
Joe Root
Rutherford gets big payday from Gujarat Titans at IPL 2025 Mega Auction
GUYANESE hard-hitting left-hander, Sherfane Rutherford, will get the opportunity to shine on T20 franchise cricket’s biggest stage once again after being picked up by the Gujarat Giants on Monday’s second day of the 2025 IPL Mega Auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Rutherford, who entered the auction with a base price of US$182,000, was the subject of an intense bidding war between the Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans.
The Indians started the bidding at US$243,000 before the Titans countered with a bid of US$268,000.
Mumbai responded with a bid of US$292,000 before the Titans returned with a winning bid of US$317,000.
Rutherford has previously made 10 appearanc-
es in the IPL, seven for the Delhi capitals in 2019 and three for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022, scoring 106 runs in nine innings at an average of 15.14.
Riders.
Other West Indians selected on day two include Romario Shepherd who was snapped up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for US$182,000 and
The Lucknow Super Giants exercised their right to match the Mumbai Indians bid of US$91,000 for pacer Shamar Joseph. Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Akeal
He has also previously been part of the Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight
West Indies T20I captain, Rovman Powell who went to the Kolkata Knight Riders for the same price.
Shai Hope, Kyle Mayers and Roston Chase all went unsold. ( Sportsmax )
Ramnath leads West Indies U-19 Women to Super Six with win over Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, (CMC ) – C APTAIN Samara Ramnath captured four wickets to propel the West Indies Under-19 Women to their first win and into the Super Six round of the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup via a 53-run victory over Malaysia Under-19 Women in their final Group A match on Thursday.
In a must-win contest for both teams, West Indies were struggling at 37 for one in the 10th over, but blasted 75 runs off the last 10 overs to post 112 for seven from their 20 overs.
Opener Asabi Callender led the way with 30 runs off 42 balls, while Jahzara Claxton scored 19 from 14 balls and Abigail Bryce chipped in with 14 runs.
Nur Syafiqa (2-26) and Siti Nazwah (2-28), were the pick of the Malaysia bowlers.
Needing to score at just over five and a half runs an over to secure a historic victory, Malaysia’s early progress was stunted by some
the lower order.
Malaysia got off to a horrible start when Nuni Farini was run out by a direct throw from Claxton stationed at
superb bowling from Ramnath, who took 4-6 from her four overs , and they were dismissed for 59 in 18 overs.
Spinners Erin Deane and Naijanni Cumberbatch took two wickets each to finish off
cover to leave them 14 for one.
Skipper Nur Syuhada came to the crease and drove Claxton for two boundaries in the fifth over as Malaysia raced to 30 for one.
Chris Dehring Joins Elite Global Panel to shape cricket’s future
CHRIS Dehring, the highly regarded Jamaican sports administrator, who is about to embark on the job as CEO of Cricket West Indies, has been named to join a panel of experts to advise on the future of the sport of cricket around the world.
Dehring was announced on Thursday as the newest member of the World Cricket Connects Advisory Board. This independent group will shape the annual World Cricket Connects agenda, help facilitate the event’s discussions and in turn maximise the opportunity for genuine impact on the health of the game.
including day/night Test cricket, the World Test Championship, speeding up the pace of play, cricket in multi-format sports events such as the Olympics, and stronger anti-corruption deterrents. The final meeting of the committee took place at Lord’s last summer.
In a communique, the MCC said, the following names have accepted invitations to join the board:
Kumar Sangakkara (Chair – Former Sri Lanka captain and former President of MCC)
Anurag Dahiya (Chief Commercial Officer at ICC)
However, Claxton got her revenge when she had Nuni Farini caught behind after scoring one from 22 deliveries.
Ramnath then struck twice in the 11th over; first bowling Syuhada with the first ball for 12 as she attempted a slog and then three balls later she trapped Syafiqa lbw for a duck as Malaysia slipped to 38 for four.
Ramnath then bowled Suabika Manivannan as the West Indies captured the final six Malaysia wickets for the addition of just 21 runs, with the hosts’ batters failing to negotiate the offspin of Deane and Cumberbatch.
The result helped West Indies qualify as the third best team from Group A while Malaysia was eliminated from the tournament having lost all three of their matches.
The World Cricket Connects will stage a forum, which proved hugely popular in the past to bring together influential people from across all aspects of cricket in its inaugural year in 2024. This year’s event will be held at Lord’s on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 June 2025, ahead of the ICC World Test Championship Final between South Africa and Australia.
The Connects Board replaces the MCC World Cricket Committee. Many of the areas of the global game which were debated and influenced as part of its remit will now be included and discussed by the Connects Board. The committee was established in 2006 as an independent body and completed a range of important work across a range of topics in the game,
Chris Dehring (CEO at West Indies Cricket)
Sourav Ganguly (Former India captain and former President of BCCI)
Sanjog Gupta (CEOSports, JioStar)
Mel Jones (Former Australia international and current broadcaster)
Heather Knight ( England captain)
Trudy Lindblade (CEO at Cricket Scotland)
Heath Mills ( Executive Chair at World Cricketers’ Association)
Imtiaz Patel (Former Chair of SuperSport, MultiChoice and DStv)
Jay Shah (Chair of ICC)
Graeme Smith (Former South Africa captain and League Commissioner at SA20)
Andrew Strauss (Former England captain and former Director of Cricket at ECB). (Sportsmax)
Hosein,
Guyanese hard-hitting left-hander, Sherfane Rutherford
West Indies Under-19 Women’s captain, Samara Ramnath (right) and Erin Deane shared six wickets between them
… Shepherd, Powell snapped up by RCB and KKR, respectively
Chris Dehring
GCA first and second division two-day cricket resumes this weekend
Transport SC’s leg-spinner Riyad
is a stand by for the National team
Devon Lord took the most wickets for GCC last year with his left-arm spin
International Boxing Association asks Trump to ‘look into’ 2028 Olympics omission
THE International Boxing Association (IBA) has asked United States President Donald Trump’s new administration to “look into” the sport’s omission from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended the IBA – which ran the Olympic Games’ boxing programme – in 2019, because of concerns over its finances, governance, ethics, refereeing and judging.
Having failed to meet required reforms set out by the IOC, the IBA was stripped of its role – a decision upheld in April 2024 by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following an appeal.
The IOC organised boxing at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, and, though it says it will not do so at future Olympics, it remains hopeful the sport can be restored to the programme through a new international federation.
At present boxing is not part of the 2028 plans- but a final decision on its inclusion has not yet been made.
World Boxing, which hopes to secure the recognition to run
Olympic boxing, has already reached 60 members.
But the Russian-led IBA, which wants to re-establish its own governing status, has asked Trump, who took office as president of the United States for the second time on Monday, to help restore boxing to the Olympic programme.
“They [the IOC] have announced in the last 12 months that boxing will not be part of the Olympic program for LA28; it would be very much appreciated if your team could look in to this situation,” an open letter from the IBA to Trump read.
“We sincerely hope that boxing will be part of the celebrations in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, and will indeed become a great showcase of genuine love to the sport from the American nation and fans worldwide.”
Trump, who enjoyed a brief foray in boxing promotion during the early 1990s, has been elected on a four-year term and will be in office when the Games are held in Los Angeles in 2028. (BBC)
GDF pacer Joshua Jones had a four-for in the GHE practice match
Latif
Skipper
Jay Shah was secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India from October 2019 to December 2024